Achilles UVDB Registration Achieved

Riverside Environmental are pleased to announce that they have received accreditation from Achilles and have been added to UVDB (Utilities Vendors Database).

Achilles is an EU-recognised company offering supplier management services to key industries including construction, rail and utilities. UVDB focuses on power generation and transmission, water and gas networks, and the nuclear sector.

Participation in Achilles schemes enable procurement departments to reduce lengthy and costly tendering processes by pre-qualifying suppliers and contractors to authenticate their ability to provide essential services.

Inclusion on the UVDB is only achievable after extensive desktop and on site audits which focus on risk critical issues and require a verifiable and demonstrable commitment to all aspects of health, safety, quality and environmental issues.

A spokesman for Riverside today said “We are delighted to receive the UVDB accreditation. We have always been committed to the quality of our work and maintaining a safe, healthy environment for both our operatives and our clients. To have this commitment, and our ability to meet it, corroborated by an independent auditor is extremely gratifying and reflects the confidence that our customers have in us and our work.”

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

Landmark Ruling Over

The supreme court has upheld a £240,000 compensation claim in the first case of a former pupil successfully suing a local authority for negligent exposure to asbestos.

The Government now faces growing pressure to complete a full assessment of the risk from asbestos in schools.

Quotes:

Lord Justice Sedley -
"...where asbestos is involved, a risk of exposure is a risk of harm."

Annette Brooke, MP and chairwoman of the parliamentary asbestos in schools group -
"We have been pushing for an assessment of the asbestos risks to children, and this judgment, we feel, is going to give us the clout to get one."

Michael Lees, founder of the Asbestos Exposure in Schools campaign group -
"The ruling has profound implications."

Husband of the deceased claimant -
"If her case helps others get justice more easily that has to be a good thing"

Knowsley council -
"It has always been clear that Mrs Willmore suffered from a severe illness which was caused by exposure to asbestos and the council is, and always has been, extremely sympathetic towards Mrs Willmore and her family."

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers -
"It has been known for many years that children are more vulnerable than adults to the effects of asbestos exposure, even at low levels. In the last 10 years, 140 teachers have died of mesothelioma. If teachers are dying from their exposure, inevitably pupils will die too in later life. Because of the long latency period, however, there are no records of adults who have died because of childhood exposure."

Coverage: The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/mar/09/asbestos-school-compensation-dianne-willmoreThe BBC  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-12686641Channel 4  (Dead link)Supreme Court Press Release http://www.asbestosexposureschools.co.uk/pdfnewslinks/supreme%20court%20summary.pdf

If you would like advice on managing the risk from asbestos or need an asbestos survey or asbestos air testing, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

HSE Clampdown on Construction Site Asbestos Management

A HSE clampdown is underway across the country which will feature unannounced visits to construction sites to ensure they are managing the risk from asbestos exposure and working at heights properly.

The HSE press release states that last year 2014 sites and 2414 contractors were visited. This led to 350 prohibition notices to stop dangerous work.

Philip White, HSE's Chief Inspector of Construction, said:
"This year, as part of ensuring risks from asbestos are properly managed, we will also be checking that, where appropriate, asbestos surveys have been carried out prior to any refurbishment work. Many workers believe that, because asbestos has been banned as a building material, it's no longer a threat to them. But that simply isn't true. Any premises built or refurbished before 2000 could contain asbestos."

To read the full press release click here.

If you would like advice on managing the risk from asbestos on your construction or demolition project, need an asbestos survey or asbestos air testing, please contact us and we will be very happy to help.

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

Construction Site Environmental Monitoring – Noise, Dust & Vibration

Consideration to completing environmental monitoring on construction and demolition projects for noise, dust and vibration is now a standard part of the environmental planning stage.

The use of environmental monitoring consultants provides a number of benefits including compliance and provision of important dispute data. Below is a brief outline of this topic:

Compliance

Several regulatory documents govern what is needed and when in relation to construction and demolition site monitoring. The main documents include:

-          Mayor of London Best Practice Guidance – The control of dust and emissions from construction and demolition

-          BS:5228 Noise and vibration control on construction and open sites

-          Considerate Constructor and Considerate Contractor Schemes

-          Local Authority Requirements

-          DEFRA Guidance

Control Limits

Environmental monitoring for noise, dust and vibration can provide a safe guard against nuisance or damage. By setting control limits, alarms can be set to warn if levels have been breached which have the potential for damage or nuisance. These alarms can be discrete, immediate and automated so that action can be taken before a problem results.

Dispute Prevention and Resolution

Environmental monitoring can provide invaluable data as evidence that the project is not causing damage or nuisance to neighbours. If carried out correctly this can prevent or significantly reduce claims against the contractors involved.

In fact if monitoring is undertaken with the knowledge of the neighbours, it can prevent any disputes from occurring at all, as neighbours can see that the contractor is taking steps to safeguard their properties and prevent nuisance occurring.

Data Integrity

To ensure that the data collected from monitoring devices is useful it is very important that certain criteria are fulfilled. The list below will help to prevent money being wasted on monitoring which does not ultimately provide the evidence or preventative measure required.

-          Design of environmental monitoring plan including control limits

-          Calibration of devices

-          Correct setup and use of devices

-          Impartiality of those taking and logging the results

-          Report quality

For more information on construction site environmental monitoring please contact us.
0870 950 0161

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Legionella - What You Need to Know...

Legionella risk assessment and Legionella monitoring are simple processes in controlling the risk from Legionella bacteria in most water systems, read on to find out what you need to know...

What is it?

Legionella is a term for a group of bacteria which, if inhaled, can cause Legionnaires Disease. This disease is a form of pneumonia which proves fatal in about 10-15% of cases.

What regulations do I need to follow?

There are a number of regulations and guidance documents that deal with the risk from Legionella bacteria, however the main documents are the Health and Safety at Work Act and ACoP L8.

ACoP L8 is provided by the HSE to offer specific guidance on how to control the risk from Legionella including management, record keeping, training and practical tasks.

Where is the risk?

Legionella are water based bacteria commonly found in water systems such as domestic hot and cold water, cooling towers, drinking water etc.

In practise any water system has the potential risk from Legionella associated to it.

What do I need to do?

The first step is to carry out a risk assessment of the water systems you manage. This must be carried out by a competent person, as whoever completes this document is taking responsibility for the risk and so must understand it.

There are really only 2 steps to most Legionella control programmes:

Legionella Risk Assessment – Every 2 years (or when something significant changes)

Routine Legionella Monitoring – This is set out by the risk assessment but is likely to include basic temperature checks, physical inspection and sampling.

In most cases trained site staff carry out the more basic tests leaving only quarterly, 6 monthly or annual visits for a specialist contractor.

Things to check

1. Make sure any specialist contractor you employ is a member of the Legionella Control Association (LCA)

2. Impartial and independent advice is crucial. Make sure you are happy the contractor is not just trying to make work for themselves! Employing an independent consultant is one way of achieving this.

3. Keep records of the good work you are doing. Without written confirmation in your site log book the HSE could assume it never happened!

And finally…

Legionella is a real problem which according to the HPA is greatly under reported. They estimate the true level of infection is approximately 5000 a year*, and so effective control is essential for both those at risk and those managing water systems.

*HPA presentation at the Combating Legionella conference 2010.

Please contact us for more information on Legionella control and we will be happy to help.
0870 950 0161.

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Riverside Director Offers Expert Opinion on BBC News

Riverside Director and ATaC Chairman Jonathan Francis interviewed by BBC news about problems with asbestos management in schools.

If you need help in managing the risk from asbestos, please contact us and we will be very happy to help.

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

Riverside Awarded Legionella Control Association Certificate

We are very happy to announce that we have been awarded registration with the Legionella Control Association.

Over the last few months Riverside have been undergoing a rigorous review programme to enable us to successfully register with the Legionella Control Association (LCA). This body has been setup to ensure Legionella service providers are working to the highest standards.

The LCA will continue to periodically audit our Legionella works to ensure that the high standards we provide continue, this we hope will reassure our clients and future clients that we endeavour to offer the highest quality service in terms of technical excellence, impartiality and advice.

A copy of our registration certificate can be found on our Links and Downloads page.

To find out more about the LCA, please click here.

If you need help in managing the risk from Legionella, please contact us and we will be very happy to help.

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161